Guyana should consider investing more in the development and expansion of rugby

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

Please allow me space in your newspaper letters column to press once again for funding for rugby in Guyana. I have observed that not much attention is paid to this sport by the authorities in spite of the fact that our national team have been performing well on the international scene. While I am not saying that cricket should not be supported, I certainly believe that much of the attention is given to that sport. Rugby is also important and our players can become world class too, but, if we do not make the necessary investments in the sport, we cannot expect miracles.

That aside, it is indeed good news that following the recently- concluded Las Vegas Invitational Sevens tournament where the national rugby team was declared joint champions, the local ruggers will now shift their attention to the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong to be staged in March.

The HSBC Sevens World Series (SWS) will be held in Hong Kong from March 23 to 25 and the International Rugby Board (IRB) has introduced a “transitional qualification process” to qualify three new teams from the six rugby regional associations, namely Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, Oceania, North America and the Caribbean.

Guyana and Canada will represent the North America and Caribbean Rugby Associations respectively, while the other participating teams in the qualification tournament are Hong Kong, Japan, China, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Zimbabwe, Uruguay, and Tonga.

Beginning with the 2013 Sevens World Series, a promotion and relegation process will be implemented each year providing the opportunity for new teams to qualify. The Sevens World Series will now become one of the tournament pathways for qualification for the 12-team Rugby Sevens competition at the 2016 Olympics to take place in Brazil.

Editor, we should be proud that Guyana is the first Caribbean country to qualify for the Hong Kong Sevens World Series qualification tournament with an opportunity to qualify as a future Core Team providing a pathway to the Olympic Games. We must continue to support our players and do whatever is needed for the continued development of the sport. Also the Ministry of Education may want to consider introducing rugby training in schools and hosting competitions in order to publicise the game a bit more. I am sure that many of our students will be interested in joining up.

Yours truly,

Former rugby player

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